Former Rep. Jim Ryun, running for the GOP nod in Kansas’ 2nd district, topped state Treasurer Lynn Jenkins by 44 points in a late-April poll that was released by his campaign Wednesday.

Ryun and Jenkins are battling in the Aug. 5 primary for the right to face Rep. Nancy Boyda (D) in November. Boyda defeated Ryun in 2006 despite the strong Republican bent of the eastern Kansas 2nd district.

Ryun’s internal poll found that he led Jenkins 65 percent to 21 percent, showing a net gain for the former Congressman since he polled at this time last year. Last May, Ryun’s internal polling had him out in front of Jenkins, 61 percent to 27 percent.

Ryun’s poll, conducted April 27 and 28, surveyed 350 likely GOP voters, and had a margin of error of 5.66 points.

“Despite the fact that Lynn Jenkins has been running for Congress for a full year, she continues to trail Jim Ryun by a wide margin,” said Neil Newhouse of Public Opinion Strategies, Ryun’s pollster. “In fact, over the past year, the two candidates’ images have not statistically changed.”

Jenkins campaign spokesman Patrick Leopold attributed Ryun’s strong showing in this poll to a year of advertising he said the former Congressman invested in to cover up his “record of wasteful spending and business relationship with convicted felon Jack Abramoff.”

“We haven’t spent a dime on advertising and sit here today with more money to spend on the primary than Ryun,” Leopold said. “The more people hear about his record, the better we do.”

Bush to Headline Event for Moore’s Challenger

President Bush is scheduled to headline a fundraiser for state Sen. Nick Jordan (R), who is challenging Rep. Dennis Moore (D) in the GOP-leaning, suburban Kansas City 3rd district.

The May 29 noontime event is set for a private home in Bucyrus. Among the honorary chairmen of the fundraiser are former Sen. Bob Dole (R), GOP Sens. Sam Brownback and Pat Roberts, former Rep. Jim Ryun (R) and state Treasurer Lynn Jenkins (R).

— David M. Drucker